Šafářová Headlines This Week In Tennis

This Week In Tennis
​Vol. 17

I won't bore you with a long preamble this week. Instead, you can scroll down and see for yourself what tennis had on offer in week 17 of the 2016 season. 

Week 17 Titlists: Lucie Šafářová (Prague), Timea Bacsinszky (Rabat), Diego Schwartzman (Istanbul), Nicolas Almagro (Estoril), Philipp Kohlschreiber (Munich).
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WTA
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Lucie Šafářová hoists the champion's trophy at the Prague Open | Photo via J&T Banka Prague Open Facebook page.

​RUNDOWN
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• Lucie Šafářová found form in Prague on her way to taking the title. Last year's French Open finalist won her first singles match of the year before parlaying that into the seventh title of her career. 
• Sam Stosur made her first final since July 2015 (W - Bad Gastein), but was unable to get past Šafářová in three sets.
• Timea Bacsinszky scored her fourth career WTA title in Rabat, and first ever on clay. 
• Kuznetsova continued her stellar 2016 with a run to the Prague semifinals before conceding a walkover to Sam Stosur. The result pushes her up one spot in the WTA rankings to #12. 
• Marina Erakovic made it through qualifying in Rabat all the way to the final. Ranked #186 at the start of the week, the former world # 39 is now within reach of a direct entry into the French Open with a new ranking of #128
• The top four seeds made the semifinals in Prague, the first time this has happened on the WTA Tour since Monterrey 2015.
• Check out the WTA version of the Spelling Bee for a few laughs. 
• Madison Keys has (another) new coach.
• Serena Williams pulled out of Madrid citing illness, which means neither Williams sister will be participating this year.

7th WTA title from Prague!!!! So happy! Thank you so much for all your support!! Was amazing week! □❤️□□□□□□ pic.twitter.com/yD8I1ec2Un

— lucie safarova (@luciesafarova) 30 April 2016

"Spell Pavlyuchenkova"@GarbiMuguruza, @Simona_Halep & more test their spelling skills in the #WTA Spelling Bee! □https://t.co/QenIT7Dcpa

— WTA (@WTA) 25 April 2016

I'm going to miss playing in Madrid, but looking forward to Rome :)

— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) April 28, 2016

Ciao @MutuaMadridOpen!!!Questa settimana sparring d'eccezione...grande @betocamma10 !!!□□□□□□ pic.twitter.com/HUOR5i5gVF

— Roberta Vinci (@roberta_vinci) 28 April 2016

When you feel like celebrating something..□ Ah,but wait,no,not now yet..you have match tomorrow..□□ #tennislife #patience #MMOPEN #lovemyjob

— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) 30 April 2016

It's a girl □□□ we are incredibly excited to announce the safe arrival of our beautiful daughter Andie □□□ pic.twitter.com/Cc1mj12SFG

— caseydellacqua (@caseydellacqua) 27 April 2016

@NickKyrgios @Ajlatom thanks u cuties □ Andie sends a high 5 & lots of bday luv to u Nick ✌️ maybe all the superstars are born on the 27th □

— caseydellacqua (@caseydellacqua) 29 April 2016

Another step towards recovery ☺️□□□ pic.twitter.com/pO0JDtooAp

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) 25 April 2016

RANKINGS WATCH
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• RISING: Šafářová (+3 to #13), Stosur (+2 to #23), Giorgi (+5 to #45), Larsson (+7 to #62), Bertens (+15 to #82), Parmentier (+10 to #92), 
• FALLING: Pennetta (-2 to #14),  V. Williams (-2 to #16), Kovinic (-5 to #52), Wickmayer (-11 to #54), SaiSai (-7 to #71), 

​ON THE WEB

100 Days to Rio: the Race Heats Up
The Long Road Back: A 1-on-1 with Lucie Šafářová​
CNN Open Court: Barcelona Bumblebee
CNN Open Court: That Backhand
The Numbers Behind Vika's Renaissance
​No Tennis Wildcards at Rio 2016: What This Means for India’s Chances at the Olympics
Eugenie Bouchard: 'I know I Can Play Great Tennis'
Doubles Specialists Face Unusual Pressure, Atmosphere in Olympic Tennis​
Double Trouble: Mladenovic & Garcia Racing Through April (Part I)
Double Trouble: Mladenovic & Garcia Racing Through April (Part II)
Serb and Return: Jelena Jankovic on the Comeback Trail
Champion's Corner: Safarova
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​ATP

Photo via Elif Ilkel on Istanbul Open's Facebook page.

​RUNDOWN
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• Diego Schwartzman won the first title of his career in Istanbul. He overcame a first set deficit to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 6-0 in three sets amidst a meltdown from the Bulgarian. 
• Dimitrov made the finals in Istanbul, but his week will be remembered for how that match ended against Diego Schwartzman. Watch how the drama unfolded here. 
• Philipp Kohlschreiber will be a darkhorse during the French Open on the strength of his recent clay results, culminating in this week's title in Munich. He's made the quarterfinals of five tournaments in 2016 and took out the rising Dominic Thiem in a three-set final on home soil.
• Nicolas Almagro made a big jump in the ATP rankings after winning in Estoril. Ranked as high as #9 in his career, the Spaniard rises 23 spots to #48 after his title run.
• Alexander Zverev continued his steady rise up the ATP ranks with a semifinal showing in Munich. The 19-year-old made his third quarterfinal of 2016 and has had his runs halted by the likes of Murray, Monfils, Berdych, Nadal, and now Thiem.
• Rafael Nadal was named the flag bearer for Spain for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games.
• Juan Martin del Potro made his return to clay courts this week after a three year absence from playing a professional match on the surface. He won two rounds in Munich before losing in straight sets to eventual champion, Kohlschreiber. 
• Wacky weather in Munich this week, and players took to social media to show us what it's like to play tennis while it's snowing.
• Benoit Paire's semifinal run in Estoril means there are now five Frenchmen ranked in the ATP's top 20.
• Missed Ben Rothenberg's appearance on Jeopardy this week? Watch it here.

Genia de la vida y de este deporte. Un honor recibir tu saludo! Muchas gracias https://t.co/Lh76Q0vflN

— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) 1 May 2016

#Munich style ?❄️ @BMWOpenbyFWUAG pic.twitter.com/oKlrmVbsNA

— David Goffin (@David__Goffin) 27 April 2016

@TallyChallenger Please tell me why so much animosity from sponsors? As the #1 seed, why were none of my singles on center?

— Donald Young Jr (@Yimlife1313) 29 April 2016

until quarters? A sponsor calling me a punk and cheater during my match was appalling. Let me be clear it wasn't everyone but a lot.

— Donald Young Jr (@Yimlife1313) 29 April 2016

I want to apologize to all my fans and audience for my behavior on court last night,big congrats to Diego,who played an incredible match!

— Grigor Dimitrov (@GrigorDimitrov) 2 May 2016

Muy contento de ser abanderado en los Juegos Olímpicos de #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/bZuYjBSkX8

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) 27 April 2016

Here we are after my first match on clay in 3 years... □□❄️☃♠️♣️♥️♦️□ pic.twitter.com/0nqJqSFmMw

— Juan M. del Potro (@delpotrojuan) 27 April 2016

Hoy empezamos de nuevo. La operación ha ido muy bien! pic.twitter.com/nmnyZVZvG9

— Tommy Robredo (@TRobredo) April 27, 2016

​RANKINGS WATCH
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• RISING: Raonic (+1 to #10), Paire (+1 to #20),  Kohscreiber (+2 to #25), Mayer (+4 to #42), Zverev (+6 to #43), Almagro (+23 to #48), Dzumhur (+5 to #74), Schwartzman (+25 to #62), Thompson (+28 to #90), del Potro (+63 to #274) 
• FALLING: Gasquet (-2 to #12), Pella (-7 to #50), Cervantes (-8 to #66), Rosol (-7 to #72), Groth (-15 to #95), Cecchinato (-25 to #118)

​ON THE WEB
​
How to Make Pro Tennis a Realistic Career
Rafael Nadal Wants His Drug-Test Results Made Public
Bill Tilden: A U.S. Tennis Hero, but with a Morals Clause
Kozlov Enjoying All-Surface Success In Challengers
A Rowdy Tennis Round Robin​
Tipsarevic Makes Winning Return In Ostrava
Long-Forgotten Tennis Brand Pins Revival on No. 81 Ranked Player
Belarus Tennis Player Escapes Punishment Over Meldonium
John Millman: Behind Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, Australia's Next Best Thing
What David Foster Wallace Got Right About Tennis
Mailbag: Has the ATP's Next Generation Fizzled Out?
Back to Paris for Bjorn Fratangelo
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​PODCASTS

​The Body Serve - "The Spelling Bee: Lemonade Quenches Your Thirst"
Tennis.com - "Rafa Unleashed"
No Challenges Remaining - "You Can't Do That on Television"
WTA Insider - "Fertile Soil (Kerber, Siegemund)"
WTA Insider - "Dropshot: Mutua Madrid Open Preview"
Beyond The Baseline - "Irina Falconi"
​Tennis Connected - "Djokovic Has Something to Prove in Madrid"